Those who know me may be aware that as well as my obvious interest in SQL Server I also have a very keen interest in Windows Live and specifically in Live Mesh, an incubation technology from Microsoft that synchronises data between different devices and the cloud (go to Live Mesh Overview to learn more about it).
Over the past couple of months I have been combining these interests internally at EMC Consulting (formerly known as Conchango) by establishing an internal SQL code repository which is stored as a Live Mesh folder; we’ve had some success with it as our consultants have been sharing their various SQL scripts, stored procedures, SQLCLR code and similar with everyone else who has access to the folder thus we now have a code repository that syncs across every consultant’s laptop (we’ve done the same with a .Net code repository also).
Given my interest in sharing and collaboration I’d like to extend this code sharing experience to a wider audience and hence have created a “SQL Server Code Repository” folder on the Mesh and am inviting anyone out there that wants access to come and be a part of it.
So far I have created the folder, created some subfolders to naturally segregate the content, and seeded it with a few nuggets of my own. So far I have folders for:
- T-SQL scripts
- Stored-procedures
- User defined functions
- SSAS artefacts (e.g. MDX, XMLA)
- SSIS artefacts (e.g. commonly-used SSIS expressions )
- SQLCLR objects
There isn’t much in here yet but I’m hoping that with the help of the community this will grow and grow into an invaluable collection of intellectual property and if it doesn’t, well, at least it will have been an interesting experiment. Don’t forget that if you sync the code repository to your machine then it will be available offline and, moreover, be indexed by Windows desktop search as well.
If you want to get access to the folder then email me via the email link on my blog and I will happily add you as long as you promise to abide by a few simple guidelines:
- You only get out what you put in. In other words, PLEASE CONTRIBUTE!
- The usefulness of this folder is dictated by the quality of content that exists in it hence please don’t just put your favourite SELECT * FROM … statement in here, only really really useful code should apply. If you want an idea of what a really useful script might be take a look at the script library on SQLServercentral.com.
- The folder owners reserve the right to remove content that isn’t of sufficient quality and quality is at the discretion of the folder owners.
- Currently I am the only owner but hopefully I can recruit other trusted people to do the same job over time. I don’t want to be dictatorial about this – I want it to be as open as possible.
- Any file that is placed into the folder should contain comments that ideally include usage guidelines and author. Any file that doesn’t contain any comments will probably be removed.
- If you add a file into the folder please feel free to post a comment to the folder’s news feed telling people about it.
- If you find the code repository useful then blog about it, twitter about it (I have done), talk about it. Spread the word. The more people that use this code repository then the more useful it will become.
- Be courteous to other people’s contributions. If you think something could be improved then try and seek out the original author rather than making a serrupticious change.
That’s all everyone, I hope to see you on the Mesh. Remember, if you want access just email me.
-Jamie
P.S. Note to my EMC Consulting colleagues, I won’t be copying any content from the existing internal EMC Consulting folder because that stuff is our own IP. If you want to share your stuff in this public folder though, go right ahead.